Method for utilizing an attachment assembly for quartz sleeve support

ABSTRACT

A method for utilizing an attachment assembly for supporting a quartz sleeve to prevent vibration, comprising at least one vibration resistant member, a collar attachment member and a support plate. The vibration resistant member is adaptable to hold and support the quartz sleeve positioned inside an ultraviolet (UV) cylinder. The collar attachment member is configured to enclose the vibration resistant member. The support plate is configured to attach the collar attachment member containing the vibration resistant member with the UV cylinder. The attachment assembly can be attached to the UV cylinder wall directly or can be attached to a mounting device inside the UV cylinder wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S.Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/913,814, filed on Mar. 6, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to quartz sleeve assemblies,and more particularly to an attachment assembly that eliminates theamount of vibration in a quartz sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

There is a need for disinfected and purified water for human consumptionas well as various water treatment methods and systems for industrialapplication. Water filters are very efficient in removing many commoncontaminants and impurities found in water. However, to disinfect andtreat fluids, ultraviolet (UV) light is used to efficiently treatfluids. An ultraviolet water treatment unit includes a cylindricalchamber having a UV source fixed with an O-ring seal at both ends of thequartz sleeve or at one end with a domed quartz sleeve. The quartzsleeve extends from one end to other end of the chamber and is fixed atboth ends. The fluid treatment unit or water reactor that contains theUV light source allows light to be absorbed by the fluids that passthrough the reactor. Some fluid treatment units provide high flow rateof water to a user. The UV fluid treatment unit contains the UV lamp,which allows UV light to be absorbed by the fluids that pass through thereactor. Some UV fluid treatment units use long UV lamps and quartzsleeves for high flow rate application. Such high flow rate results inquartz sleeve vibration during operation. The high amount of vibrationcauses lamp and quartz sleeve to contact and accelerates lamp failures.Hence some support assemblies are required to prevent the vibration ofquartz sleeve and reduce UV lamp vibration, resulting in improved UVlamp performance.

Several attachment assemblies have been developed to support quartzsleeve with the goal of reducing the amount of vibration on them duringoperation. One such ultraviolet water disinfection reactor forinstalling in an existing water pipeline includes a plurality of sleevesthat extend through the body transversely to the axial direction offlow. However, this reactor fails to provide any means to preventvibration of the plurality of quartz sleeves. Another UV fluid treatmentsystem for treatment of water resident in a vessel includes one or moreUV lamps mounted in quartz sleeves that surround the lamps for immersionin water and that are supported to protect the sleeves and lamps fromvibration damage. In this fluid treatment system, a combination of aspring at one end and a resilient O-ring at the other, therefore form acushioning or shock absorbing suspension or support for th sleeve thatshields the sleeve and lamp from damage during periods of severevibration. However, as the end of the quartz sleeve is domed and securedagainst the distal wall by a spring and the O-ring is placed over theother end of the sleeve, it only provides support at both ends andcannot effectively minimize vibration. Further, as the system providessupport only at both ends, the quartz sleeve bends upwards due tobuoyancy inside the UV reactor once the reactor is filled with fluid.Moreover, it is important to keep the UV lamp centered within the quartzsleeve for lamp performance and efficiency. The clearance gap betweenthe UV lamp and the quartz sleeve acts as insulation barrier betweenwater and UV lamp for optimum UV light performance.

There is thus a need for an attachment assembly for preventing thevibration in the quartz sleeve in a UV water reactor. Such an attachmentassembly would provide another point of contact within the cylinder ofthe UV water reactor to maintain the quartz sleeve in a straightposition between the O-ring sealed ends. Such an attachment assemblywould support the quartz sleeve at an additional location within the UVreactor/cylinder and provide support around the quartz sleeve at 360degrees. Further, such an attachment assembly would keep the UV lampcentered within the quartz sleeve for increased lamp performance andefficiency. Such a system would guide the quartz sleeve through the UVreactor, from endplate to endplate and ease the process of installation.The present embodiment overcomes shortcomings in the field byaccomplishing these critical objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To minimize the limitations found in the existing systems and methods,and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the readingof this specification, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionprovides a method for utilizing an attachment assembly that eliminatesthe amount of vibration in a quartz sleeve in an ultraviolet (UV)reactor.

The attachment assembly comprises at least one vibration resistantmember, a collar attachment member and a support plate. The at least onevibration resistant member is adaptable to hold and support the quartzsleeve positioned inside a UV cylinder and thereby to prevent itsvibration. The at least one vibration resistant member is an O-ring andis made from a material selected from a group consisting of: Teflon,rubber, elastomer, or a metal spring. The collar attachment member isconfigured to enclose the at least one vibration resistant member. Theat least one vibration resistant member is positioned inside the collarattachment member. The at least one vibration resistant member isenclosed by the collar attachment member such that there is little to nospace left therebetween and hence limits movement between the membersThe support plate is configured to attach the collar attachment membercontaining the at least one vibration resistant member with the UVcylinder. The attachment assembly can be attached to the UV cylinderdirectly or can be attached to a ring positioned inside the UV cylinder.When the attachment assembly is attached inside with the UV cylinder,the quartz sleeve is guided through the at least one vibration resistantmember from a first end plate to a second end plate of the UV cylinder.The attachment assembly is attached to a ring or directly on the innerside of the UV cylinder of a reactor holding the quartz sleeve.

The method for utilizing an attachment assembly for preventing vibrationof a quartz sleeve positioned inside the UV cylinder comprises the stepsof: providing an attachment assembly having at least one vibrationresistant member enclosed by a collar attachment member connected with asupport plate. Then mounting the attachment assembly to a ringpositioned at a fixed location at a distance inside the UV cylinder.Inserting the quartz sleeve into the UV cylinder through a first endplate of the UV and guiding the quartz sleeve through the at least onevibration resistant member enclosed by the collar attachment member.Attaching the quartz sleeve with a second end plate of the UV cylinder.Holding and supporting the quartz sleeve steadily by the at least onevibration resistant member enclosed by the collar attachment member toprevent vibration.

It is a first objective of the present invention to provide a method forutilizing an attachment assembly that reduces and prevents vibration inthe quartz sleeve in a UV water reactor.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a method forutilizing an attachment assembly that would provide another point ofcontact within the cylinder of the UV water reactor to maintain thequartz sleeve in a fixed straight position without sagging or bendingupward due to buoyancy.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a method forutilizing an attachment assembly that would maintain or stabilize thequartz sleeve at a location within the cylinder and provide supportaround the quartz sleeve at 360 degrees.

A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a method forutilizing an attachment assembly that would keep the UV lamp centeredwithin the quartz sleeve for increased lamp performance and efficiency.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method forutilizing an attachment assembly that would guide the quartz sleevethrough the cylinder, from first endplate to second endplate, and easethe process of installation.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention aredescribed with specificity so as to make the present inventionunderstandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale inorder to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of thesevarious elements and embodiments depicting the method of the invention.Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood tothose in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear viewof the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings aregeneralized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an attachment assemblyholding a quartz sleeve in accordance with aspects hereof;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the attachment assembly attachedto the ring on the inner side of the UV cylinder holding the quartzsleeve in accordance with aspects hereof;

FIG. 3A is a cut out view of the attachment assembly attached directlyto the inner side of the UV cylinder of the water reactor holding thequartz sleeve in accordance with aspects hereof;

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the attachment assembly attached directlyto the inner side of the cylinder holding the quartz sleeve inaccordance with aspects hereof; and

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for utilizing an attachmentassembly for preventing vibration of a quartz sleeve positioned insidethe UV cylinder in accordance with aspects hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments andapplications of the present invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand changes may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.However, any single inventive feature may not address any of theproblems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussedabove. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not befully addressed by any of the features described below.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “And” as usedherein is interchangeably used with “or” unless expressly statedotherwise. As used herein, the term ‘about” means +/− 5% of the recitedparameter. All embodiments of any aspect of the invention can be used incombination, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural and singular number, respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “wherein”, “whereas”, “above,” and“below” and words of similar import, when used in this application,shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particularportions of the application.

The description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed.While the specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes, various equlivaentmodifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of an attachment assembly100 holding a quartz sleeve 104 in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The attachmentassembly 100 for supporting the quartz sleeve 104 comprises at least onevibration resistant member 102, a collar attachment member 108 and asupport plate 110. The at least one vibration resistant member 102 isadaptable to hold and support the quartz sleeve 104 positioned inside anultraviolet (UV) cylinder 106 of a water reactor (not shown) and therebyto prevent its vibration. The at least one vibration resistant member102 is an O-ring which is made from a material selected from a groupconsisting of: Teflon, rubber, elastomer, or a metal spring. The collarattachment member 108 is configured to enclose the at least onevibration resistant member 102. The at least one vibration resistantmember 102 is positioned inside the collar attachment member 108 andsurrounds the quartz sleeve 104 to hold it in a straight position Thecollar attachment member 108 has a structure to hold the at least onevibration resistant member 102, preferably the O-ring, steady. The atleast one vibration resistant member 102 is enclosed by the collarattachment member 108 such that there is little to no space lefttherebetween and hence allows no free movement between the members. Thesupport plate 110 is configured to attach the collar attachment member108 containing the at least one vibration resistant member 102 with theUV cylinder 106. The attachment assembly 100 can be attached to the UVcylinder 106 directly or can be attached to a ring 112 positioned insidethe UV cylinder 106. When the attachment assembly 100 is attached insidewith the UV cylinder 106, the quartz sleeve 104 is guided through the atleast one vibration resistant member 102 from a first end plate 114 to asecond end plate 116 of the UV cylinder 106. Thus the at least onevibration resistant member 102 enclosed by the collar attachment member108 guides the quartz sleeve 104 therethrough and prevents itsvibration.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view respectively of the attachmentassembly 100 attached to the ring 112 on the inner side of the UVcylinder 106 of the water reactor (not shown) holding the quartz sleeve104. The support plate of the attachment assembly is attached to thering as shown in FIG. 2. The ring 112 is positioned at a fixed positionat a distance away from the first end plate 114 and the second end plate116 of the UV cylinder 106.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a cut out view and cross-sectional viewrespectively of the attachment assembly 100 attached directly to theinner side of the UV cylinder 106 holding the quartz sleeve 104. Theattachment assembly 100 is fixed inside the UV cylinder 106 at adistance away from the first end plate 114 and the second end plate 116.

The attachment assembly 100 allows the quartz sleeve 104 to be supportedby the at least one vibration resistant member 102 to ensure that it ismaintained in a fixed straight position. The at least one vibrationresistant member 102 stabilizes the quartz sleeve 104 while it issupported by the attachment assembly 100. The attachment assembly 100 isdesigned to provide another point of contact with the cylinder 106 whichotherwise was only supported at both end plates 114 and 116. Byproviding another point of contact with the cylinder 106, the attachmentassembly 100 reduces the amount of vibration of the quartz sleeve 104during operation. Thus the at least one vibration resistant member 102and the collar attachment member 108 of the attachment assembly 100provide 360 degrees of support around the quartz sleeve 104 whichreduces and eliminates vibration during operation.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method 200 for utilizing an attachmentassembly for reducing and preventing vibration of a quartz sleevepositioned inside the UV cylinder. The method comprises the steps of:providing the attachment assembly having at least one vibrationresistant member enclosed by a collar attachment member connected with asupport plate as shown in block 202. Mounting the attachment assembly toa ring positioned at a fixed location at a distance inside the UVcylinder as indicated in block 204. Then inserting the quartz sleeveinto the UV cylinder through a first end plate of the UV cylinder asindicated in block 206. As indicated in block 208, guiding the quartzsleeve through the at least one vibration resistant member enclosed bythe collar attachment member and attaching the quartz sleeve with asecond end plate of the UV cylinder as indicated in block 210. Holdingand steadily supporting the quartz sleeve by the at least one vibrationresistant member enclosed by the collar attachment member to preventvibration as indicated in block 212.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for the purpose of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intendedthat the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detaileddescription, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for utilizing an attachment assembly foreliminating vibration of a quartz sleeve positioned inside anultraviolet (UV) cylinder, the method comprising the steps of: a)providing the attachment assembly having at least one vibrationresistant member enclosed by a collar attachment member connected with asupport plate; b) mounting the attachment assembly to a ring positionedat a fixed location at a distance inside the UV cylinder; c) insertingthe quartz sleeve into the UV cylinder through a first end plate of theUV cylinder; d) guiding the quartz sleeve through the at least onevibration resistant member enclosed by the collar attachment member; e)attaching the quartz sleeve with a second end plate of the UV cylinder;and f) holding and steadily supporting the quartz sleeve by the at leastone vibration resistant member enclosed by the collar attachment memberto prevent vibration.